[i][center]Chapter 19: Final Straw[/center][/i]

    T.J buckled slightly at Jason's voice, knowing he won't be able to deter him this time. His mind was in utter chaos, half of him berating himself and the other struggling to not break down. Of course the rabbit would hear him even with his voice low! Just how stupid could he be? He held his head and grunted, trying hard to quell the emotions bubbling deep inside. He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder.

“Are you alright?”, Jason said worriedly.

“Yeah, I’m just—“

“Got a headache?”, he cut me off, “Look, I can tell something’s wrong, and I can help. You just have to talk to me.”

“I-I’m fine.”

“You’re not. You’ve been stumbling all night and muttering to yourself. I’m not stupid, T.J.”

“I...”, he grits his teeth and starts to walk past the rabbit, “You wouldn’t understand—“

He found his wrist grabbed, “Then help me understand. If it’s about Xavier, I can—“

“It’s not about Xavier!”, he ripped his arm free, “It’s about [b]me![/b] You can’t understand because I’m not from this world!”

    It only took a second for T.J to realize the words he just released. Jason had a baffled look on his face, ears folded down as if he were hit by a hurricane. He looked back and saw Sam looking at him worriedly. His heart pounded harder than before, his mind crashing into overdrive with thoughts. His breathing got harder, short harsh puffs of air escaping him as his body shook.

“T.J—“, Jason started.

“No! I-I’m sorry...”, he stepped back before rushing out the door, leaving the occupants of the diner stunned.

“What was all that about?”, Sam asked.

“I don’t know...”, Jason said with his ears still down, “But I think someone else might.”

[center]~~*~~[/center]

[b][i]T.J POV[/i][/b]

What the hell was I thinking?!

    Real nice, T.J, just real nice! It was bad enough I got Jason on my back, but then I pretty much blurted out that I’m not from this world. I should’ve known things wouldn’t stay good for long. I got complacent, I got comfortable. I just had to open myself up!

Maybe it’s best if I just go...

    I’d save the heartache of them watching me go. Even more so, I’d be able to get all this worry off my mind. But Xavier, he won’t see me again— likely forever. He’ll be crushed if I disappear on him!

    No, I can’t stay. But if I go back, what if things just relapse and the cycle goes all over again? If I come back, Xavier might hate me! He’ll be mad I left without saying goodbye and he may never speak to me! But if he’s annoyed by me staying...

“Dammit!”, I shout out loud, raising my head to the rolling clouds above me. Everything hurts.

    I notice that I’m near the fountain, the same one that started all of this. I go to the edge and look at my reflection. Broken, cold, idiotic— I’m right back at the beginning. Alone, frustrated at myself, and completely lost. Maybe this isn’t the place for me if I’m just gonna be at the same point over again.

Then the bubbling came...[i]and that light.[/i]